Furniture member with powered mechanism providing lift and zero gravity positions

Abstract

A furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions includes a first torque tube having first and second connecting links fixed thereto. The connecting links are each rotatably connected to a first or second connecting arm. The first and second connecting arms are rotatably connected to a gear housing. A positioning motor connected to the gear housing displaces a slide member coupled to the gear housing. Slide member motion displaces the first and second connecting arms, displacing and rotating the first torque tube. First and second connecting plates are rotatably connected to the slide member. A second torque tube is fixed at opposite ends to each of first and second arm rest portions of a furniture member base portion. The first and second connecting plates are also connected to the second torque tube such that slide member displacement rotates the base member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions, comprising:
 a first torque tube; 
 first and second connecting links fixed to the first torque tube, the first connecting link rotatably connected to a first connecting arm and the second connecting link rotatably connected to a second connecting arm; 
 a gear housing having the first and second connecting arms rotatably connected to the gear housing; 
 a positioning motor connected to the gear housing, operation of the positioning motor slidably displacing a slide member slidably coupled to the gear housing, sliding motion of the slide member acting to displace the first and second connecting arms thereby displacing and rotating the first torque tube; 
 first and second connecting plates rotatably connected to the slide member; and 
 a second torque tube fixed at opposite ends to each of first and second arm rest portions of a base portion of the furniture member, the first and second connecting plates also connected to the second torque tube such that displacement of the slide member causes rotation of the base member. 
 
     
     
       2. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 1 , wherein the slide member when positioned to a fully rearward position on the gear housing positions the base portion to a lift operating position having a first arm rest face of the base portion oriented at an angle ranging between 30 to 40 degrees with respect to a floor surface. 
     
     
       3. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 2 , further including a seatback member rotatably linked to the first torque tube, wherein the slide member when positioned to a fully forward position on the gear housing forwardly moves the base portion to a zero gravity operating position having a second arm rest face of the base portion oriented substantially parallel with respect to a floor surface and the seatback member rotated fully rearward to a seatback fully reclined position. 
     
     
       4. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 1 , further including:
 a drive motor; and 
 first and second pantograph linkage sets connected to a leg rest assembly, the first and second pantograph linkage sets displaced between a retracted and a fully extended position by operation of the drive motor; 
 wherein the slide member when positioned to a fully rearward position on the gear housing positions the base portion to a lift operating position. 
 
     
     
       5. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 4 , wherein the drive motor is rendered inoperable during rotation of the base portion to the lift operating position such that the leg rest assembly and the first and second pantograph linkage sets are retained in the retracted position at the lift operating position. 
     
     
       6. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 4 , further including:
 a drive rod; and 
 a support rod oriented parallel to the drive rod and slidably displaced in either a forward or a rearward direction with respect to support rod containment members connecting the drive rod to opposite sides of a seat support frame; 
 wherein rotation of the drive rod about a central longitudinal axis of the drive rod and forward displacement of the support rod provide full extension of the first and second pantograph linkage sets. 
 
     
     
       7. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 1 , wherein the second torque tube is oriented substantially parallel with respect to the first torque tube, the first torque tube being rotatable with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first torque tube and the second torque tube being fixed and non-rotatable. 
     
     
       8. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 1 , wherein sliding displacement of the slide member resulting from operation of the positioning motor selectively causes one of a forward displacement of the slide member causing a rearward rotation of a furniture member base member, or a rearward displacement of the slide member with respect to the gear housing causes the base member to forwardly rotate to a lift position. 
     
     
       9. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 1 , further including seatback member linkage sets rotatably connected to and acting to rotate a seatback member, wherein the first torque tube is connected to the seatback member linkage sets such that displacement of the first torque tube rotates the seatback member. 
     
     
       10. A furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions, comprising:
 a first torque tube; 
 first and second connecting links fixed to the first torque tube, the first connecting link rotatably connected to a first connecting arm and the second connecting link rotatably connected to a second connecting arm; 
 a gear housing having the first and second connecting arms rotatably connected to the gear housing; 
 a positioning motor connected to the gear housing, operation of the positioning motor slidably displacing a slide member slidably coupled to the gear housing, sliding motion of the slide member acting to displace the first and second connecting arms, thereby displacing and rotating the first torque tube, displacement of the first torque tube causing rotation of a base portion of the furniture member and rotation of the first torque tube causing rotation of a seatback member coupled to the base portion; 
 a drive motor; and 
 first and second pantograph linkage sets connected to a leg rest assembly, the first and second pantograph linkage sets and the leg rest assembly displaced between a retracted and a fully extended position only by operation of the drive motor. 
 
     
     
       11. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 10 , further including first and second connecting plates rotatably connected to the slide member. 
     
     
       12. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 11 , further including a second torque tube fixed at opposite ends to each of first and second arm rest portions of the base portion of the furniture member, the first and second connecting plates also connected to the second torque tube such that displacement of the slide member causes rotation of the base member. 
     
     
       13. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 10 , further including:
 a tubular support frame connected to and supporting the base portion to a floor surface, the tubular support frame having first and second frame tubes; 
 a base side wall individually fixed to each of the first and second frame tubes, each base side wall being positioned within a space defined between an inner arm rest wall of one of a first or a second arm rest portion and an outer arm rest wall of the first or second arm rest portion. 
 
     
     
       14. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 13 , further including a mounting pin connected to each of the base side walls, the mounting pins rotatably supporting the arm rest portions to the base walls and defining a base member axis of rotation. 
     
     
       15. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 10 , wherein the slide member when positioned to a fully rearward position on the gear housing forwardly rotates the base portion with respect to the base member axis of rotation, thereby defining a lift operating position having a first arm rest face of the base portion oriented at an angle ranging between 30 to 40 degrees with respect to a floor surface and the seatback member rotated fully forward to a seatback fully upright position. 
     
     
       16. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 15 , wherein the seatback member is rotatably linked to the first torque tube, and the slide member when positioned to a fully forward position on the gear housing rearwardly rotates the base portion with respect to the base member axis of rotation, thereby defining a zero gravity operating position having a second arm rest face of the base portion oriented substantially parallel with respect to the floor surface and the seatback member rotated fully rearward to a seatback fully reclined position. 
     
     
       17. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 16 , wherein the positioning motor is not operated during extension or retraction of the leg rest assembly. 
     
     
       18. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 16 , wherein the drive motor is not operated and the leg rest assembly is retained in the retracted position during operation of the positioning motor to rotate the base member to the lift operating position. 
     
     
       19. A furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions, comprising:
 a gear housing having the first and second connecting arms rotatably connected to the gear housing; 
 a positioning motor connected to the gear housing, operation of the positioning motor slidably displacing a slide member slidably coupled to the gear housing, sliding motion of the slide member acting to displace and rotate a first torque tube; 
 first and second connecting plates rotatably connected to the slide member; 
 a second torque tube fixed at opposite ends to each of first and second arm rest portions of a base portion of the furniture member, the first and second connecting plates also connected to the second torque tube such that displacement of the slide member causes rotation of the base member with respect to a base member axis of rotation; 
 a drive motor; and 
 first and second pantograph linkage sets connected to a leg rest assembly, the first and second pantograph linkage sets and the leg rest assembly displaced between a retracted and a fully extended position only by operation of the drive motor. 
 
     
     
       20. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 19 , further including first and second connecting links fixed to the first torque tube. 
     
     
       21. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 20 , further including a first connecting arm and a second connecting arm rotatably connected to the first and second connecting links and rotatably connected to the sliding member. 
     
     
       22. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 20 , wherein when the slide member moves forward, an angle of orientation of the gear housing is changed such that a rear facing end of the gear housing rotates downwardly. 
     
     
       23. The furniture member powered mechanism providing both lift and zero gravity operating positions of  claim 20 , wherein when the slide member moves rearward, an angle of orientation of the gear housing is changed such that a rear facing end of the gear housing rotates upwardly.